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Yay! I love that this is being talked about, and I love the perspectives being shared. Funny--The first time I posted this thread, it got no responses. Then, I tried to "bump" it, and accidentally deleted it. Whoops! I tried to reconstruct it--but this time, I added the word "Opinion" to the beginning of the title. It's amazing how we gravitate towards subjective matters--stories, personal opinions--more than "objective" matters (studies, scientific conclusions, which we are quite inundated with and which also often lead to power struggles as opposed to an invitation to dialogue)... but, I digress.

I'm definitely with you on these points.

Absolutely. And, tragically, the reason for this embarrassment I think has to do with thousands of years of persecution of witches and other "heathen" practices and cultures. Look at how Europeans treated Native American "savages" under the influence of the "intoxicants" of San Pedro and Peyote, or the "savages" of African tribes. Do you think that fear of magic just goes away by itself? I think it's a legitimate fear we need to address as a society. Why do some of us fear magic? Is it because it represents a painful reconciliation with negative karma with the Earth? Is it because we have guilt and project it unto the "unclean" folks? Is it because we do not understand it? I think most of us here on the Nexus appreciate and accept to a degree "magic," but there are a lot of people out there who do not.

Thankfully, I think things are headed in the right direction with legalization. Not only that, I want to respond to this concern:

I think LSD, MDMA, and other research chemicals (cuz when does the "research" ever end?) are the "unspecific amplifiers." But natural psychedelics, which are not single, isolated chemicals, but rather a whole host of naturally balanced chemical constituents, often with generations of cultural history and practice, are not 'unspecific amplifiers,' but specific tools that pair with intention in order to create nuanced benefit within and without. In other words, as long we keep an eye on the public's potential fear of magic (a rare but extremely volatile fear), continuing to use these natural organisms respectfully will get us far in society without triggering backlash.

<blockquote data-quote="RhythmSpring" data-source="post: 3906582" data-attributes="member: 4482">Yay! I love that this is being talked about, and I love the perspectives being shared. Funny--The first time I posted this thread, it got no responses. Then, I tried to &quot;bump&quot; it, and accidentally deleted it. Whoops! I tried to reconstruct it--but this time, I added the word &quot;Opinion&quot; to the beginning of the title. It&#039;s amazing how we gravitate towards subjective matters--stories, personal opinions--more than &quot;objective&quot; matters (studies, scientific conclusions, which we are quite inundated with and which also often lead to power struggles as opposed to an invitation to dialogue)... but, I digress. I&#039;m definitely with you on these points. Absolutely. And, tragically, the reason for this embarrassment I think has to do with thousands of years of persecution of witches and other &quot;heathen&quot; practices and cultures. Look at how Europeans treated Native American &quot;savages&quot; under the influence of the &quot;intoxicants&quot; of San Pedro and Peyote, or the &quot;savages&quot; of African tribes. Do you think that fear of magic just goes away by itself? I think it&#039;s a legitimate fear we need to address as a society. Why do some of us fear magic? Is it because it represents a painful reconciliation with negative karma with the Earth? Is it because we have guilt and project it unto the &quot;unclean&quot; folks? Is it because we do not understand it? I think most of us here on the Nexus appreciate and accept to a degree &quot;magic,&quot; but there are a lot of people out there who do not. Thankfully, I think things are headed in the right direction with legalization. Not only that, I want to respond to this concern: I think LSD, MDMA, and other research chemicals (cuz when does the &quot;research&quot; ever end?) are the &quot;unspecific amplifiers.&quot; But natural psychedelics, which are not single, isolated chemicals, but rather a whole host of naturally balanced chemical constituents, often with generations of cultural history and practice, are not &#039;unspecific amplifiers,&#039; but specific tools that pair with intention in order to create nuanced benefit within and without. In other words, as long we keep an eye on the public&#039;s potential fear of magic (a rare but extremely volatile fear), continuing to use these natural organisms respectfully will get us far in society without triggering backlash.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="RhythmSpring, post: 3906582, member: 4482"] Yay! I love that this is being talked about, and I love the perspectives being shared. Funny--The first time I posted this thread, it got no responses. Then, I tried to "bump" it, and accidentally deleted it. Whoops! I tried to reconstruct it--but this time, I added the word "Opinion" to the beginning of the title. It's amazing how we gravitate towards subjective matters--stories, personal opinions--more than "objective" matters (studies, scientific conclusions, which we are quite inundated with and which also often lead to power struggles as opposed to an invitation to dialogue)... but, I digress. I'm definitely with you on these points. Absolutely. And, tragically, the reason for this embarrassment I think has to do with thousands of years of persecution of witches and other "heathen" practices and cultures. Look at how Europeans treated Native American "savages" under the influence of the "intoxicants" of San Pedro and Peyote, or the "savages" of African tribes. Do you think that fear of magic just goes away by itself? I think it's a legitimate fear we need to address as a society. Why do some of us fear magic? Is it because it represents a painful reconciliation with negative karma with the Earth? Is it because we have guilt and project it unto the "unclean" folks? Is it because we do not understand it? I think most of us here on the Nexus appreciate and accept to a degree "magic," but there are a lot of people out there who do not. Thankfully, I think things are headed in the right direction with legalization. Not only that, I want to respond to this concern: I think LSD, MDMA, and other research chemicals (cuz when does the "research" ever end?) are the "unspecific amplifiers." But natural psychedelics, which are not single, isolated chemicals, but rather a whole host of naturally balanced chemical constituents, often with generations of cultural history and practice, are not 'unspecific amplifiers,' but specific tools that pair with intention in order to create nuanced benefit within and without. In other words, as long we keep an eye on the public's potential fear of magic (a rare but extremely volatile fear), continuing to use these natural organisms respectfully will get us far in society without triggering backlash. [/QUOTE]